Related articles

The university said in a statement: “Our university community is deeply saddened by the news of the tragic deaths of two of our students in a kayaking accident on the South Island of New Zealand.”

It is thought that they were stranded in the water, which was close to freezing, for around an hour before rescuers arrived at the remote spot in the Southern Alps.

Police said the group of young people who got into difficulties on the lake after a sudden change in weather.

PA

The lake is a popular beauty spot with tourists

GETTY

The Briton was part of a group of youngsters kayaking on the lake

Rescuers pulled nine other people from the freezing waters of Lake Tekapo, who were described as "lucky to be alive" and were all suffering from severe hypothermia.

They were able to arrive in the nick of time and avert an even worse tragedy only because the man who hired out the kayaks to the group had the presence of mind to phone the police and warn them that the weather was getting worse.

It is understood that all of the group were wearing life jackets.

GETTY

They were kayaking when a sudden gust of wind hit their kayaks

GETTY

Lake Tekapo is in the stunning Southern Alps

Inspector Dave Gaskin, mid-south Canterbury area commander, said that sudden gusts had hit the lake with wind speeds reaching 25mph.

He told the New Zealand Herald: "The boats were swamped and they were tipped into the water.

"The air temperature when it happened was about 3C [37F] and the water wasn't much warmer than that and they were in the water for about an hour.

He added that those who had survived were "lucky to be alive".

The Foreign Office (FCO) confirmed that one of those who died was a British national.

In a statement the FCO said it was supporting the man's family and was in contact with New Zealand authorities.